Don Carter State Park: Hours, Fees and Directions

Water And Ice Safety: read this before you go

Short answer

Don Carter State Park is a 1,316-acre state park in Hall County, near Gainesville. Park hours are 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Parking is $10 per vehicle per day or $70 for an annual ParkPass. Checked October 20, 2026 on its official page.

Hours

7 a.m.–10 p.m.

Cost

$10 per vehicle

Where

Gainesville, North Georgia

Dogs

Leashed, 6 ft max

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The only state park on Lake Lanier, at the lake’s north end, with boat ramps, a sand beach and 14.5 miles of trails shared by hikers and horseback riders.

Plan it in three lines

Getting In
Parking is $10 per vehicle for the day, or $70 for the annual ParkPass that works at every Georgia state park.
Park 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
What to Do
The official page lists Biking, Boating, private boats permitted and Educational Programs.
Leashed dogs welcome outdoors
Make It a Day
Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site is about 17 miles away. Coming up near here: Songwriters at the Lake in Buford.
6 events within 30 mi

Don Carter State Park Hours

Hours at a glance

Hours in a day

Park7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Office8 a.m.–5 p.m.

A quick view of the usual hours. Seasonal changes and holiday closures are in the list below, so read that before you drive.

Park: 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Office: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

What It Costs

Parking, by the visit

Day parking vs. the annual ParkPass, by number of visits

$70 annual ParkPass

Day parking is $10 per vehicle. Seven visits cost the same as the $70 annual ParkPass; from the eighth visit the pass is cheaper. Bars show what that many day visits cost in total.

Parking: $10 per vehicle per day, or a $70 annual ParkPass that works at every Georgia state park. Overnight guests pay the daily fee once per stay; parking is not included with a reservation (Georgia State Parks ParkPass page).
Equestrian: The daily trail fee is $15.00 per rider in addition to a parking pass. Please visit the park office to record proof of negative Coggins.

Where It Is and How to Get in Touch

Address5000 North Browning Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506
CountyHall (North Georgia region)
GPS34.38762, -83.74646 (directions in Google Maps)
Park678-450-7726
Reservations800-864-7275
Official pagegastateparks.org/DonCarter

Dogs and Strollers

Dogs: Georgia State Parks welcomes pets on a leash no longer than six feet, with the owner at all times. Pets are not allowed in park and historic site buildings, lodges, yurts, group camps, swimming areas or beaches (park rules).
Strollers: the park does not publish stroller rules. Paths range from paved walks to rough trails, so call ahead (678-450-7726) if you need a stroller-friendly route.

What’s at Don Carter State Park

Facilities the park lists: 38,000 Acre Lake Lanier; 8 Cottages; 44 Tent, Trailer & RV Campsites; 16 Primitive Tent Campsites; 4 Picnic Shelters; Boat Ramps; Docks; Fish Cleaning Station; Sand Beach; Playground; Outdoor Fitness Equipment; Gift Shop.

Things to do: Biking; Boating — private boats permitted; Educational Programs; Fishing; Hiking — 14.5 miles of trails; Horseback Riding (trail fee, weather permitting, check for availability) — 14.5 miles of trails; Paddling — 8 miles of trails; Picnicking; Swimming; Water Skiing; Kayak, Paddleboard & Aquacycle Rentals — seasonal.

Accessibility: this site lends an All-Terrain Georgia Action Trackchair (free, reserve ahead). How to book: free all-terrain wheelchairs at Georgia state parks.

Events Coming Up Near Don Carter

Around Don Carter within 30 miles

State parks and historic sites

1Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Sitestate historic site17 mi
2Hardman Farm State Historic Sitestate historic site21 mi
3Smithgall Woods State Parkstate park21 mi
4Unicoi State Park & Lodgestate park23 mi

Events coming up

5Songwriters at the LakeBuford24 mi
6Magical Nights of LightsBuford21 mi
7Celebrate the Holidays Parade & Festival (Braselton)Braselton19 mi
8Downtown Dawsonville Christmas Parade & Tree LightingDawsonville21 mi
9Cumming City Center Winter/Holiday MarketCumming26 mi
10Annual Lighting of the Village (Helen)Helen22 mi

Straight-line distances from the site’s GPS point. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable. The same places are listed below.

Nov 13 – Nov 15Songwriters at the Lake, Buford (about 24 miles away, from $49)
Nov 20 – Jan 3, 2027Magical Nights of Lights, Buford (about 21 miles away)
Nov 21Celebrate the Holidays Parade & Festival (Braselton), Braselton (about 19 miles away)
Nov 21Downtown Dawsonville Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting, Dawsonville (about 21 miles away, free)
Nov 21Cumming City Center Winter/Holiday Market, Cumming (about 26 miles away)
Nov 27Annual Lighting of the Village (Helen), Helen (about 22 miles away, free)

Events within 30 miles in the next 90 days from our Georgia event calendar, as of October 20, 2026; distances are straight-line from the site’s GPS point. The park’s own ranger programs and events are on the Georgia State Parks events calendar.

Nearby State Parks and Historic Sites

Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site (state historic site, Lumpkin County), about 17 miles away
Hardman Farm State Historic Site (state historic site, White County), about 21 miles away
Smithgall Woods State Park (state park, White County), about 21 miles away
Unicoi State Park & Lodge (state park, White County), about 23 miles away

More on It’s Georgia

All Georgia state parks and historic sites, by region
Georgia state parks compared: hours, parking, dogs and free accessibility equipment in one table
North Georgia: more places to go in the region

Source: the Don Carter State Park page on gastateparks.org (Georgia Department of Natural Resources), checked October 20, 2026. Hours and fees change, so check the official page before a long drive. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will re-check it.

Safety Notice

Water And Ice Safety: Read This Before You Go

Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, beaches and ice can kill, quickly and without warning. Conditions change by the hour and we cannot see them from here. This page is general information only. It is not a safety assessment, and it does not say or promise that any place, water, ice or activity is safe.

We do not inspect, test, measure or monitor water, ice, currents, depth, water quality, algae, wildlife, access, closures or lifeguard staffing at any place we list.
Posted signs, closures, advisories, flags and the directions of rangers, lifeguards and the land owner or managing agency always override anything here. A place being listed does not mean it is open, legal to enter, or permitted for swimming, wading, boating or fishing, and does not give you permission to be on private land or private water.
Children and weak swimmers: the CDC says to assign a responsible adult to watch children closely and constantly in or near water, with no phone, reading, alcohol or drugs, and to use life jackets for children in and around natural water. It also says inflatable or foam toys are not safety devices.
Open water hides hazards. The CDC names currents, waves, rocks, vegetation and poor visibility. As general guidance (not from a named source), also expect sudden drop-offs, very cold water even on a warm day, submerged objects, boat traffic and changing weather. Never swim alone, and never mix alcohol with water or boats.

Thin Ice: No Ice Is Guaranteed Safe

If you cannot be sure the ice is safe, stay off it. Ice thickness is not even. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says a lake can be "two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away", and that it does not measure ice thickness on lakes: "Your safety is your responsibility."
The Minnesota DNR's published guidelines are for new, clear ice only: under 4 inches, stay off; about 4 inches for people on foot, such as ice fishing. It says to double those numbers on white ice and to allow more for loads that sit longer than two hours. Those figures are one state's general guidance for average conditions. They are not a guarantee, may not fit this place or this winter, and a measurement in one spot says nothing about the next.
As general guidance (not from a named source): moving water, inlets and outlets, springs, docks, pressure ridges, snow cover, recent thaws and ice that is cloudy, gray or slushy are all warning signs. Another person saying the ice is safe, a social media post, or old footprints and tracks are not proof. Ponds and small lakes can freeze unevenly and can have thin spots near shore.
If you choose to go anyway, you do so at your own risk: tell someone where you are going, never go alone, and keep children and pets off. Ice rescue is dangerous even for professionals. Call 911 instead of going out after someone.

Emergency in the United States: call 911. Learn CPR, as the CDC recommends.

Not ConfirmedWe have not verified current water or ice conditions, water quality, access, swimming or boating permission, lifeguard hours, fees, rules or closures for any place on this page. The land owner or managing agency (a park, city, county, state or federal office, or the property owner) is the one who can confirm them. Ask them before you go.

Sources read on 8 November 2026: the Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html, no page date shown) and the CDC drowning prevention page (cdc.gov/drowning/prevention, page dated 29 September 2025). Guidance can change and can differ by state and by place: check the current text and your local agency before relying on it. This notice is general guidance only. It is not legal, medical, rescue or professional safety advice, and nobody on this site is a lifeguard or safety professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for any children and pets with you, and you use this information at your own risk. Water, ice, weather and local rules change quickly and differ by state, county and property. To the fullest extent the law allows, this site, its owner and its contributors are not responsible for any injury, death, loss or damage that results from using this information or from visiting any place, water or ice mentioned here. If you do not accept that, do not rely on this page (see the Limits Of Liability in our Terms Of Use).

Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Don Carter State Park”, itsgeorgia.com/places/don-carter-state-park/ (updated 2026-11-09). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.

Getting In

What to Do

Make It a Day